Blade Blast - What Does It Mean in Path of Exile 2?
Blade Blast is a skill gem in Path of Exile 2 that plays a crucial role in many spell-based builds. It is designed to work in synergy with other skills, providing significant area damage through detonations.
Mechanics
Blade Blast functions by detonating blades that have been left on the ground by other skills. When activated, it causes all nearby blades to explode, dealing area damage to enemies in the vicinity. The skill is unique in its ability to leverage the presence of multiple blades, allowing it to deal substantial damage when used strategically.
- Detonation: Each blade detonates independently, creating overlapping areas of effect that maximize damage output.
- Synergy: Blade Blast is often used in conjunction with skills like Ethereal Knives or Blade Vortex, which generate the blades necessary for detonation.
- Area of Effect: The skill benefits from increased area of effect modifiers, making it more effective in clearing large groups of enemies.
Build Strategies
When integrating Blade Blast into a build, it's important to consider the following strategies:
- Blade Generation: Use skills that rapidly generate blades to ensure that Blade Blast can be used effectively. Ethereal Knives is a popular choice due to its ability to produce numerous blades quickly.
- Scaling Damage: Focus on spell damage, area damage, and critical strike modifiers to boost the effectiveness of Blade Blast detonations.
- Defensive Layers: Since Blade Blast requires positioning to maximize its effect, invest in defensive mechanics like evasion or energy shield to survive in close quarters.
Skill Gem Links
Optimizing Blade Blast involves linking it with supportive gems that enhance its capabilities:
- Spell Echo Support: Grants additional casts, ensuring that Blade Blast detonates more blades in quick succession.
- Increased Area of Effect Support: Expands the blast radius, allowing for more effective crowd control.
- Controlled Destruction Support: Provides a significant boost to spell damage, although it reduces critical strike chance.
For more detailed strategies and community discussions, consider visiting the Path of Exile forums or the Path of Exile subreddit.